News and Updates

Drag Bingo is back for another fabulous night on Friday 1 May  After a dazzling debut, RSPCA NSW is turning up the sparkle once again with the return of Drag Bingo fundraising night – promising an evening of entertainment, laughter and life-changing impact for animals in need.  Taking centre stage on Friday 1 May at Petersham RSL, the second instalment of Drag Bingo is set to be bigger, bolder and even more fabulous than before.  Hosted by the sensational queens, Conchita Grande and Charlamaine, guests can expect a night packed with cheeky entertainment, dazzling performances, and plenty of laughs. Best of all, every dollar raised will help us provide life-changing care to every animal that turns to our shelters and hospitals for support.  Ben Wilheim, Community Fundraising Manager at RSPCA NSW, said that guests can expect to enjoy an evening of cheeky entertainment, exciting games, and plenty of prizes, with all funds raised going directly to the animals in our care.  “We’ve been preparing a dazzling mix of laughter, good food, and fabulous fun,” Wilheim said. “There are more than $7,000 worth of prizes to win from thrilling rounds of bingo, a major raffle, a silent auction,…

Easter is a joyful time filled with family, food, and fun – but for our furry friends, it can be unexpectedly dangerous. Every year, the RSPCA and vets across the country treat pets – especially dogs – for chocolate toxicity and other holiday-related risks. To ensure this Easter remains safe and happy for everyone, here are some simple tips and important info every pet owner should know. Keep Your Pets Out of the Easter Egg Hunt It might be tempting to include your dog in your Easter egg hunt – but please keep chocolate eggs and their foil wrappers well out of reach. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. This is because chocolate contains compounds like theobromine and caffeine which, if ingested, are extremely toxic and even lethal for our pets. While all chocolate is risky, dark and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous. Just 50g can be fatal if ingested by a small dog. Symptoms…

The RSPCA NSW Pet of the Year Awards are here and it’s time to celebrate the pets who change our lives.  The RSPCA NSW Pet of the Year Awards are a celebration of the pets who bring joy, laughter, comfort and unconditional love into our lives. It’s about the dogs who greet you at the door, the cats who claim your keyboard, the rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and every other much-loved companion who bring joy, laughter, comfort and unconditional love into ordinary days. It’s the way they make even ordinary days feel special. Here, regular pets are the real stars.   Whether your pet is a rescue success story, a social media sensation, or simply the light of your life, there’s a category for them in this year’s awards: You can enter into one of five categories: Cutest Dog, Cutest Cat, Best Rescue Pet, Adorable Others, and Pet Influencers.  How it works:  Create a profile for your pet, upload a few of your favourite photos, and submit your entry before 13 April 2026. Once submissions close, voting will begin and entrants will progress through knockout rounds based on votes…

When we first met Simone, her heart was as full as her home. Sharing her small apartment in the Macarthur region with 28 cats (and at the time, several dogs too), Simone was doing everything she could to care for them. But between constant vet visits, the stress of unplanned litters, and the day-to-day demands of feeding and caring for so many animals, things had become overwhelming. Simone wasn’t failing her cats, she just needed support. Through our Keeping Cats Safe at Home program, we stepped in to work alongside Campbelltown City Council and Simone’s social worker to ensure she didn’t have to face this alone. Together, we provided practical, compassionate help: transporting her cats to and from veterinary appointments, supplying food during tough times, and most importantly, ensuring all 28 cats were safely desexed. That’s 28 lives changed and countless more litters prevented. One special girl, Shyllaw, needed urgent dental surgery. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a dedicated…

A Keeping Cats Safe at Home Update: Desexing in Action Across NSW   As both an RSPCA NSW vet nurse and Keeping Cats Safe at Home Desexing Coordinator for the Hunter region, I’ve witnessed first-hand how desexing pets and strays can turn desperate situations into stories of real and lasting progress. Desexing is not just a routine veterinary procedure: when complemented by collaboration and community support, it can be the turning point that completely alters the course of a cat’s life.   Across NSW, our team has been busy working alongside councils, veterinary clinics, community carers, and volunteers to trap, transport, and desex cats. Sometimes, our efforts take the form of coordinated large-scale operations. Other times, it manifests in something as simple as a conversation.    Desexing Starts with Community   Many of the cats we encounter are part of small neighbourhood colonies. These cats are often fed by locals who, despite caring deeply for their welfare, may not have the resources to organise veterinary care for so many cats. Empowering these carers to access desexing services is a huge part of what we do. Whether it’s helping organise appointments, providing traps, or transporting cats to local clinics, sometimes that little bit of support is all it takes to stop things from spiralling and…

Why Desexing Matters: Supporting Healthier Cats and Communities Desexing is one of the most important steps you can take for your cat’s health, wellbeing, and long-term safety. Beyond preventing unplanned litters, desexing offers significant health benefits, supports safer and calmer behaviours, and plays a key role in reducing the number of animals entering shelters and pounds. Understanding the full benefits of desexing can help cat carers make informed decisions that improve the lives of their own companions while supporting the wider community. What Is Desexing? Desexing, also known as sterilisation or neutering, is a surgical procedure performed by a qualified veterinarian to permanently prevent an animal from reproducing. In males, this involves the removal of the testicles, known as castration. In females, the procedure typically involves removing the ovaries and often the uterus, a procedure called spaying, which can be performed as an ovariohysterectomy (removing both ovaries and uterus) or an ovariectomy (removing just the ovaries). (Urfer & Kaeberlein, 2019)…

The Animals in Emergencies Conference, hosted by RSPCA NSW, is set to return on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at our Sydney Adoption and Education Centre, bringing together a passionate community committed to protecting animals when disaster strikes. This year’s theme, Building Capacity before the Crisis, highlights a simple but powerful truth: preparation saves lives. By strengthening systems, improving coordination, and learning from past emergencies, we can significantly reduce the impact on animals and the people who care for them. The conference will once again unite animal personnel, emergency responders, and advocates who share a common purpose of improving outcomes for animals in times of crisis. What sets this conference apart is its strong focus on collaboration. It’s designed to bring the right people together, those who can share knowledge, challenge perspectives, and work together to create meaningful, lasting change. Attendees can expect: Expert-led presentations sharing best practices and real-world lessons Panel discussions featuring experienced voices from across sectors Networking opportunities…

RSPCA ranks first in YouGov Charity Rankings for fifth year in a row! This ranking is based on the Donor Consideration Score, a score that measures the likelihood of a charity receiving a donation tomorrow, in which RSPCA scored 30.7. Being a trusted 150-year-old charity, we’re extremely proud of this achievement which reflects our dedication and commitment to animal welfare. We are grateful and honoured to be able to continue to advocate for the care and protection of vulnerable animals. As a not-for-profit organisation, we appreciate and value all our incredible volunteers, donors and supporters who are vital to the work we continue to do. RSPCA sees thousands of animals each year turn to us in need of rehoming, veterinary care and rehabilitation services. Our organisation is committed to giving our furry friends a voice through education, awareness and advocacy to raise present and future generations with kindness, empathy and love towards animals. We want to take this opportunity to…

RSPCA NSW wishes you and your furry friends a Happy Valentine’s Day but urges cat owners to give some thought to the kind of gifts they’re bringing home.

As one of the Project Officers working on the Keeping Cats Safe at Home (KCSAH) StrayCare program, it’s incredibly rewarding to pause and reflect on just how much has been achieved since July 2025. What stands out most isn’t simply the sheer number of cats we’ve desexed, but the people, partnerships, and communities behind every feline we’ve helped. Program Impact: Communities Exceeding Expectations Thanks to strong partnerships with more than 70 veterinary clinics across New South Wales, over 3,900 cats have been desexed through the StrayCare program. Many participating councils haven’t just already met their 2025–26 financial year targets, they’ve absolutely smashed them! In just this financial year: Cumberland Council reached an incredible 637 cats desexed, achieving 212% of their target. Parramatta Council followed closely with 311 cats, reaching 156% of their target. Newcastle Council achieved 296 cats desexed, hitting 118% of their target in just six months. Canterbury-Bankstown reached 426 cats, achieving 142% of their target in just six…

You may have seen animal carers and vets talk about the importance of cat enrichment, but what do terms like ‘enrichment’ or ‘enrichment activities’ actually mean? Enrichment refers to the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of something. In animal care, this means that once an animal’s essential environmental needs are met, enrichment can provide additional opportunities for animals to engage with the world in a positive way. By giving them the chance to further express their natural behaviours, regular enrichment greatly improves the overall welfare of our cats.     There are five factors that contribute to a healthy feline environment, as outlined by Ellis et al (2013). These pillars form the essential foundations that must be in place for a cat to live a healthy, safe, and happy life.   Every person responsible for the care of cats has an important role to ensure these needs are met in any given environment.    The five pillars of a healthy feline environment are:  Pillar 1 – Providing a safe space  Pillar 2 – Providing multiple and separated key environmental resources (including food, water, toileting…

Travelling with a dog, cat or other animal by your side this holiday season can be an exciting and enjoyable experience. However, it is incredibly important to ensure your companion animal is safe, happy and healthy on these long trips. Luckily, we have some advice for how to ensure your furry friend can enjoy their time away as much as you do. Microchip, Health and Vaccinations Before you hit the road you should make sure that your animal is up to date with worming, flea treatments and vaccinations. You should also double check your microchip details and update them if necessary and provide them with a collar or identification device with your contact details affixed so that if your animal companion does accidentally wander astray, there is more chance of them being returned to you. If you know your pet is an anxious traveller, then your veterinarian can also provide you with some advice. What to Pack When Travelling With…

Pauline Dwyer has been answering RSPCA NSW calls for so long now she often knows what someone is going to ask before the words actually leave their mouth.   The organisation’s original call centre operator, Pauline manned the phones for an incredible 35 years, answering an estimated two million calls, and has continued to pick up the phone as a volunteer in recent years.   When Pauline started out in the 1980s, she answered every call solo and got to see our contact centre expand over the decades to a team now spanning several employees and volunteers.  “It’s unbelievable, the calls that you get. You’ve got to have a lot of knowledge; know so many things and you’ve got to try your best to always answer questions – give them the information they need,” Pauline said.   “At one point we moved to a section just behind the vet where a vet nurse would help me out with some of the calls and I learnt so much.   “When the computers came, we started to get more staff coming in and so the more staff you got, the more calls you could handle. My switch wall used to light up like…

What do Do When You Find Kittens Knowing what to do when you find kittens can feel overwhelming, especially if they’re alone outdoors. Before acting, the most important step is to carefully assess the situation — many kittens are not actually abandoned, and their mother may simply be away finding food. Understanding how to check for the mother, estimate the kittens’ age, and recognise when they truly need help will guide you in making the safest and most responsible decision for their wellbeing. You can follow this decision tree to calculate the kittens’ age and help you to know what to do. How to Estimate the Kittens’ Age 0-4 Weeks Old The best chance of survival for kittens at this age is to stay with their mother. Mum’s milk is perfect for them. She keeps them warm and protects them. You can watch the kittens from a distance, or you can come back later to see if their Mum comes…

A woman on the north coast of NSW has been convicted of animal cruelty offences arising from her operation of a dog breeding business. She pleaded guilty to failing to provide veterinary treatment to a female Dachshund named ‘Lucy’ for an open, infected laceration on the dog’s leg. A further offence of failing to provide vet treatment to Lucy and her three puppies for hookworm was taken into account on a Form 1.   In addition, the woman pleaded guilty to six offences related to breaches of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding Dogs and Cats, which sets minimum standards for animal breeding establishments in NSW.  Appearing in Coffs Harbour Local Court on 23 October 2025, the offender was convicted of each offence and fined $500 for failing to provide vet treatment to Lucy. In relation to her non-compliance with the Code, the Court imposed a 12-month Conditional Release Order. She was disqualified from owning or having any involvement in the care of animals for a period of two years, with an exception for two desexed dogs that must be identified to RSPCA NSW. The offender must also pay animal care costs amounting to $9,632.17.  As a result of the convictions, the offender must not breed animals or…

Rocky’s whole world fell apart when the person he loved most had to leave him behind. One day he had a family, a routine, a place to feel safe. The next, he had nothing. Rocky stayed with us at one of our Behaviour and Rehabilitation Centres. At first, he flinched at touch. He froze in fear. He didn’t know how to trust. But slowly, with patience, kindness and love, everything began to change. Thanks to generous animal lovers, Rocky was given the time he needed to heal. And one beautiful day, he walked out of our shelter and into the arms of a new family. Today, Rocky is safe. He is loved. He is home. But he isn’t the last animal who will need help. Sadly, Rocky’s story is one we see all too often.  Every single day, people across NSW are forced into the heartbreaking decision of surrendering their animals. This year alone, we received 8,199 calls that contained…

The average life expectancy of a cat is 12-16 years. However, this expectancy is significantly different for cats that live safely at home and those who are allowed to roam outdoors. The leading causes of death in outdoor cats are infection and trauma, resulting in an average life expectancy of 2-5 years for outdoor cats (Zoran and Buffington 2011). Contained cats, on the other hand, live for an average of 12-18 years (Abbate 2019), although many can live into their early 20s. Outdoor cats can be exposed to more significant hazards than safe at home cats. The most notable examples of these hazards are accidents involving cars, which include both being hit by cars and being crushed underneath cars while asleep. Cars that have recently been driven still have warm engines, which may appear to cats as warm sleeping areas. Unfortunately, this often results in them being hidden from view of the unsuspecting driver who drives off, injuring or killing…

RSPCA NSW is urging members of the community to help stop the spread of Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) and keep their pets safe after several cases have been reported this week.  Parvo is a serious and often fatal viral disease that affects unvaccinated dogs and puppies of any age. What is Parvo?  Parvo is highly contagious and spreads directly, or indirectly, through contact with faecal matter from infected dogs. Transmission may occur through direct contact with a sick dog, by sniffing an infected dog’s poo or licking/ eating off ground where a sick dog has previously been.   Parvo is especially dangerous because it can live for several years on the ground where a sick dog has defecated or vomited. As the virus is invisible, pet owners cannot know if a sick dog has previously been there. This poses an ongoing risk to dogs and puppies for many years.   Symptoms  The incubation period for Parvo is between four to six days after contact…

With summer now here, RSPCA NSW is urging pet owners to keep their animals in mind when it comes to emergency preparedness.  NSW’s diverse landscape means communities often face extreme weather events – heatwaves, drought, bushfires, storms, and floods. As guardians of animals, it’s our shared responsibility to keep them safe.  RSPCA NSW supports the community in many ways during emergencies, and we strongly encourage all animal owners to prepare an emergency plan but also take preventive measures on their properties to minimise risk and protect lives.  Planning ahead is a vital part of emergency preparedness and can significantly improve the chances of safely evacuating your animals during events like bushfires or floods.  That’s where RSPCA NSW’s Ready, Pet, Go! initiative comes in with 5000 free pet emergency starter kits being made available from December 1 with a focus on getting them to those that need them most.   These kits are limited to one per NSW household and includes:   Waterproof…

RSPCA NSW supports strengthening the regulatory framework for dog breeding in NSW. We continue to advocate for meaningful review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) to wholistically improve animal welfare, and to improve the lives of animals in NSW.   Animals in breeding establishments are particularly vulnerable, often kept in large numbers, and bred at rates not compatible with good animal welfare. RSPCA NSW has always advocated for robust statutory protections for breeding animals in NSW.  On 15 November 2024 the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farm) Bill 2024, passed through the NSW Parliament.  The Bill amends POCTAA and other related legislation, and its stated intention is to regulate dog breeding, and the advertising of dogs for sale or other transfer, introduce mandatory requirements for breeder identification, and impose limits on the number of adult female dogs in dog premises.   Below is an overview of the first two phases of the Bill, the second of…